Caped wonders with super powers have been created throughout history during times when people were in dire need of "heroes". They could fly or do a Houdini from the arch-rival's snare. But, these heroes stay on the comic book (or the silver screen). Hence, we in the real world face challenges ourselves--sans super powers. Whether it's families breaking apart or declining literacy in the country, it is we who answer the call from where we are, with what we have.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Updates on the milk issue -- Philippines

Early this afternoon, I received an email containing a list of milk and milk products banned by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for melamine contamination. Then a few hours later I did a search on updates on the issue and found a news report on abscbnnews.com containing a list of 56 milk and milk products banned by the BFAD because these were still undergoing testing for melamine contamination. I'm posting both lists here. The first is the email, followed by the news report from ABS-CBS News:

Here is a list from the UP Chem Dept., these products have been pulledout by BFAD:Subject: Melanine Tainted Products - Updated ListProducts Recalled - Melanine Contaminated

BFAD bans 56 milk products

The Bureau of Food and Drugs on Friday released a partial list of milk and other milk products undergoing testing for possible melamine contamination.

In an interview on radio dzMM, BFAD chief Leticia Barbara Gutierrez urged the public not to purchase the following products until the bureau finishes its tests.

"We are going to test if these are positive for [melamine]. Some of these used milk sourced from China. These are the samples that we have collected but there's always the possibility that these could be negative," Gutierrez told radio dzMM.

"This is the advice of the [Department of Health]. Wag na muna silang bilhin," she added.

She said the ban will remain in effect until BFAD releases results of the tests in October.

Gutierrez earlier advised the public to avoid all milk products with the "made in China" or PROC, initials for People's Republic of China, marks.

She added that Filipino consumers should also avoid infant formula and other milk products that have Chinese characters.

Department of Health (DOH) and BFAD inspectors have been taking out Chinese milk products in markets around the country. Samples had also been brought to BFAD laboratories for melamine content testing.

The two agencies have issued memorandum orders banning the sale and distribution of all Chinese milk products in the country.

Other importing countries have also banned Chinese milk products as the Chinese government conducted a crackdown on all milk manufacturers that are using the toxic chemical melamine.

Over 50,000 Chinese babies have been reported sickened due to infant formula milk products that are contaminated with melamine.